1 tiger barb getting picked on

[garyg]

Hi,
I have 6 tiger barbs and one was getting picked on pretty much. It happens to be the largest of the 6 and it is getting fins nipped a lot. I also have a red-tailed shark and some other fish (in a 30 gallon), but all others seem to be getting along fine, but the other tigers seem to be the ones picking on the same one all the time. It got to the point that I moved it to a small 10 gallon tank. The 10 gallon has 3 small tetras and 3 guppies. I know that tigers will not be a good long term match, but I thought it was going to be killed, so I thought I would see if it would recover. It's been in the 10 gallon for about a week - at first, even the guppies were picking on it! But it now seems more comfortable and swimming around more normally. My question is what to do next. Do I wait and if it seems to be recovered, just introduce it back into my 30 gallon or what else should I consider?

[fish_doc]

If it is the larger fish and getting picked on by the smaller ones it may be a case of to many males and one female. When you moved it to the guppy tank they started picking on her because she was weak at that point. Sounds like she may regaining her strength. But in the long term you will have problems again if it is a male/female raito problem and you put her back in.

[garyg]

Is there an easy way to figure out their sex?

[fish_doc]

About the only way to tell is that the male is smaller, thinner and is more brightly colored. The female will be rounder and show less red in the ventral fins.

[DJ]

mine have a green shine in the stripes

[fish_doc]

There are Green Tiger barbs. Are you sure you dont have some of those or possibly a mixed breed? Many petstores dont know what they get in and mislabel their fish.